About OCDCPro

The EU wants to become more globally independent in the field of semiconductor technology and has set itself ambitious goals with the Chips Act. However, establishing European sovereignty requires adequate specialists and experts. As part of the DI-OCDCPro project, a chip design competition for students is therefore being conceived and implemented as a prototype to inspire young people for semiconductor and chip development - and thus promote the next generation.

Open source chip design infrastructure as a learning and competition platform for students and young talents

Open source approaches play a key role in the chip design competition. Thanks to them, students can come into contact with the topic without barriers. By developing and using an open source toolchain, DI-OCDCPro not only promotes education in the field of semiconductor technology, but also innovation and sovereignty.

Another target group of the competition is teachers at universities of applied sciences and universities in the fields of computer science, microelectronics, electrical engineering and related disciplines, which is why the project is developing accompanying teaching and learning concepts.

Winners of the design competition are given the opportunity to manufacture their designed chip industrially. With the support of other industry partners, the tried and tested competition is to be made permanent in the future. The aim is to hold annual competitions with changing design tasks from the hardware sector, which should encourage motivation for a career in the chip industry and research.